DVD Players: Reviews

If you don't have (or don't plan to buy) an HDTV, you don't need to spend extra on an upconverting DVD player. This basic Sony DVD player gets kudos for its performance and ease of use, especially considering its low… price. You won't find a lot of extras, but this player does have features that help it read imperfect DVDs (such as Netflix rentals). While this Sony player can't upconvert standard-definition DVDs to near-high-def resolution, it can output video in the progressive format for compatible TVs. It's missing some connectivity options, but unless you're hooking up this DVD player to a home theater receiver or an HDTV, you probably won't need those outputs anyway.

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Though there are even less expensive standard DVD players, critics say that the Onkyo DV-SP406 hits a sweet spot in terms of value and performance. For owners of HDTVs, it can upconvert standard DVDs to HD resolutions… (480p, 720p and 1080i) via an HDMI cable. The Onkyo DV-SP406 doesn't quite deliver perfect video quality, but there are few players that do better in its price class. Audio quality is fine for watching movies but isn't terrific for listening to CDs. The player can handle lots of disc and file formats -- including MP3, DivX and JPEG. A poor remote control is the most noteworthy negative, according to reviewers.

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Reviewers say the Oppo DV-980H is the best standard DVD player for the money. For HDTV owners, the Oppo DVD player can upconvert standard DVDs to higher HD resolutions for smoother, richer images over an HDMI cable… (which, in a rarity among DVD players, is included). Even if you don't own an HDTV, the Oppo DVD player has advantages. A USB port lets you play video from a flash drive or other USB device, and a four-in-one card reader lets you display photos from a memory card. The Oppo DV-980H is also one of the least expensive region-free DVD players, and it can play discs from the U.S., Europe and Asia. Disc and file format support is broad and includes SACD and DVD-Audio. Audio performance is another strength, and reviewers say that it outperforms some CD players costing much more in that regard.

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If you want the convenience of a DVD changer but don't need a 400-disc capacity, the Sony DVP-NC800H five-disc carousel player is worth a look. Reviews say that this changer is a strong performer that can upscale images… all the way to 1080p via HDMI. Ease of use is good, but some complain that the shuffle function won't work across multiple discs, limiting its usefulness. This DVD player is also available in silver as the DVP-NC800H/S.

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Not all critics or users are completely enamored with the Sony DVP-CX995V, but its gargantuan disc capacity makes it worth considering if you have a DVD and CD collection that's gotten out of hand. It is an upconverting… player (to 1080i), and it can play SACD discs. Tests reveal some difficulty displaying all of a DVD's horizontal resolution, but reviews say that the image quality is good enough for all but the most discriminating viewers. There are also numerous operational quirks that some find onerous, but others don't mind because of this player's singular ability to reduce disc clutter.

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